Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner has warned Formula 1 owners Liberty Media that it “needs to be careful” over the expansion of the calendar, amid the impending inclusion of a Miami Grand Prix.
Formula 1’s schedule has gradually grown over the years, with this season’s calendar containing a record-equalling 21 events – compared to 17 just a decade ago.
Miami is poised to join the roster next October and while the future of several events is in doubt – most pressingly the German Grand Prix – races in Copenhagen and Vietnam have also been mooted.
The expansion of the calendar has led to the inclusion of a triple-header for the first time in the sport’s history, with events in France, Austria and Britain to take place across successive weekends.
Steiner believes Liberty must be careful not to push teams to their limits – and also be wary that spectators may not wish for such a busy schedule.
“I think there is maybe one Grand Prix not happening next year and then we are back to 21,” said Steiner.
“There’s always coming and going. I think 22 would still be possible but it’s getting difficult. We will find out this year when we have the triple header, how difficult this is.
“We will struggle and maybe find out that there is a separation point for the public. We need to be careful.
“I think Liberty is very good, they monitor it very well and at the moment, what Liberty is trying to do is get not the quantity of the races up but get the quality up.
“If we get Miami, if we get Copenhagen, I think as a global sport, these are good places to go to.
“I think first we have to see what the triple does. We have done double headers with one week in-between, we know we can do it, we will do a triple one but at what price? What is coming out when you do the post-mortem. What was the price to pay to do it?”
Steiner added that the potential inclusion of a Miami Grand Prix is not necessarily a benefit for Haas, the only team currently licensed in the United States.
“I think F1 is so global that it doesn’t really make a real difference,” he said.
“In the end Haas wants to get the brand recognised globally. In the US it is well known, everybody knows Haas.
“For us it’s more to get F1 known in America, to get more TV audiences in America and the general public, that’s what we hope from it.”
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